the book of right-on

It’s Fundrive! The one week of the year where at CKUW, the campus radio station where I have been a volunteer for eight (8!) years, takes a break from regular programming to sweetly ask our listeners to give us their support in the form of moneys.

Since 2006, I’ve hosted this program you know as The Book of Right-On. Currently it airs Thursdays from 3-5 p.m., and during it I play a blend of music I preciously call “folkpoptronical.” It’s a heady combination of neo folk, indie pop, experimental electronic and just a touch of contemporary classical. And occasionally something that might (might) pass for rock.

I hand-pick each and every track for each show. Nothing is “playlisted” (that is, randomly selected from a bank of songs approved for airplay, as is done at other stations). I don’t just throw up an iTunes “genius” playlist and call it good enough. I use my ears and brain to put songs together in a way I think is interesting and surprising for me and for my listeners. This process of radio programming is something that is sadly going the way of the dodo — even at our beloved Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

CKUW 95.9 FM allows me to share the products of my continual search for new music, a search that is driven by my voracious appetite for same.

The money we raise during Fundrive each year is vital to CKUW’s continued operation. Anyone who’s visited our very humble station knows we make a lot of radio with very little resources — your money will go a long way! The station’s goal for the seven-day pledge drive is $50,000. My show’s goal is a lofty $1400.

I suggest you call in (774-6877) to pledge during my show this Thursday (3-5 p.m. CT). As always, there are some special treats to sweeten the deal for you, the pledger. The standard CKUW incentive levels are:

$30 – CKUW Friends discount card
$60 – limited edition Fundrive t-shirt (+card)
$90 – Toque (+cards +shirt)
$150 – Zip hoodie (+toque +shirt +cards)